System and method for communicating with and controlling disparate telecommunications devices in a telecommunications network

Abstract

System and method for communicating with and controlling disparate telecommunications devices in a telecommunications network. The system and method include and involve a first telecommunications device configured to communicate within a telecommunications network according to a first messaging format, a second telecommunications device configured to communicate within the telecommunications network according to a second messaging format, and an interfacing facility. The interfacing facility communications with the first and second telecommunications devices via the telecommunications network. The interfacing facility also is configured to detect and receive a first external message formatted in accordance with the first messaging format from the first telecommunications device, to extract data from the first external message, to generate an internal message based on the data extracted from the first external message, to generate a second external message based on the internal message and the second messaging format, and to send the second external message to the second telecommunications device. The second telecommunications device is configured to operate (e.g., be controlled by, etc.) in accordance with the second external message.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for communicating with and controlling disparate telecommunications devices in a telecommunications network, comprising: 
 a first telecommunications device configured to communicate within a telecommunications network according to a first messaging format;    a second telecommunications device configured to communicate within said telecommunications network according to a second messaging format; and    an interfacing facility in communications with said first and second telecommunications devices via said telecommunications network and configured to detect and receive a first external message formatted in accordance with said first messaging format from said first telecommunications device, to extract data from said first external message, to generate an internal message based on said data extracted from said first external message, and to generate a second external message based on said internal message and said second messaging format, and to send said second external message to said second telecommunications device,    whereby said second telecommunications device is configured to operate in accordance with said second external message.    
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first messaging format defines a computer decipherable message structure having fields comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said second messaging format defines a computer decipherable message structure having field comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first telecommunications device is a switch and said first messaging format defines a switch specific messaging scheme, said first messaging format defines a computer decipherable message structure having fields comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said second telecommunications device is an interactive voice response unit (IVRU) and said second messaging format defines a IVRU specific messaging scheme, said second messaging format defines a computer decipherable message structure having fields comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said interfacing facility is a software facility that runs on a data processing platform coupled to said first and second telecommunications devices.  
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said interfacing facility is a data processing facility coupled to said first and second telecommunications devices.  
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said interfacing facility is coupled to said first and second telecommunications devices via at least one network connection.  
     
     
         9 . An interfacing facility for use in a telecommunications network, comprising: 
 a message receipt facility configured to receive a first device specific message from a first telecommunications device, said first device specific message related to a call to be processed within said telecommunications network;    a message translation facility configured to translate said first device specific message into an internal message configured to be processed by a task facility; and    a message generation facility configured to receive said internal message from said message translation facility after said internal message has been processed by said task facility, and to generate and send a second device specific message corresponding to a second telecommunications device.    
     
     
         10 . The interfacing facility according to  claim 9 , wherein said first device specific message is formatted according to a first messaging format that defines a computer decipherable message structure having fields comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         11 . The interfacing facility according to  claim 9 , wherein said second device specific message is formatted according to a second messaging format that defines a computer decipherable message structure having fields comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         12 . The interfacing facility according to  claim 9 , wherein said first telecommunications device is a switch which communicates according to a first messaging format which defines a switch specific messaging scheme, said first messaging format defines a computer decipherable message structure having fields comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         13 . The interfacing facility according to  claim 9 , wherein said second telecommunications device is an interactive voice response unit (IVRU) which communicates according to a second messaging format which defines a IVRU specific messaging scheme, said second messaging format defines a computer decipherable message structure having fields comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         14 . The interfacing according to  claim 9 , wherein said task facility is a billing facility that processes said internal message to generate billing records related to calls processed within said telecommunications network.  
     
     
         15 . The interfacing facility according to  claim 9 , wherein said task facility is a database facility that processes said internal message in performing database operations related to calls processed within said telecommunications network.  
     
     
         16 . The interfacing facility according to  claim 9 , wherein said message translation facility is further configured to process said first device specific message by extracting data therefrom based on device specific messaging format.  
     
     
         17 . An interfacing facility for use in a telecommunications network, comprising: 
 a message receipt facility configured to receive a device specific message from a telecommunications device addressable within said telecommunications network, said device specific message related to a call to be processed within said telecommunications network; and    a message translation facility configured to translate said device specific message into an internal message configured to be processed by task facility.    
     
     
         18 . The interfacing facility according to  claim 17 , wherein said device specific message is formatted according to a messaging format that defines a computer decipherable message structure having fields comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         19 . The interfacing facility according to  claim 17 , wherein said telecommunications device is a switch which communicates according to a first messaging format which defines a switch specific messaging scheme, said messaging format defines a computer decipherable message structure having fields comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         20 . The interfacing facility according to  claim 17 , wherein said telecommunications device is an interactive voice response unit (IVRU) which communicates according to a messaging format which defines a IVRU specific messaging scheme, said messaging format defines a computer decipherable message structure having fields comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         21 . The interfacing according to  claim 17 , wherein said task facility is a billing facility that processes said internal message to generate billing records related to calls processed within said telecommunications network.  
     
     
         22 . The interfacing facility according to  claim 17 , wherein said task facility is a database facility that processes said internal message in performing database operations related to calls processed within said telecommunications network.  
     
     
         23 . The interfacing facility according to  claim 17 , wherein said message translation, facility is further configured to process said device specific message by extracting data therefrom based on device specific messaging format.  
     
     
         24 . A system for communicating with and controlling disparate telecommunications devices in a telephonic network, comprising: 
 a telecommunications device configured to communicate within a telecommunications network according to a messaging format;    an interfacing facility in communications with said telecommunications device via said telecommunications network and configured to detect and receive an external message formatted in accordance with said messaging format from said telecommunications device, to extract data from said external message, to generate an internal message based on said data extracted from said external message, and to transmit said internal message to a processing facility configured to operate in accordance therewith.    
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein said messaging format defines a computer decipherable message structure having fields comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein said telecommunications device is a switch and said messaging format defines a switch specific messaging scheme, said messaging format defines a computer decipherable message structure having fields comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein said telecommunications device is an interactive voice response unit (IVRU) and second messaging format defines a IVRU specific messaging scheme, said messaging format defines a computer decipherable message structure having fields comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein said interfacing facility is a software facility that runs on a data processing platform coupled to said telecommunications devices.  
     
     
         29 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein said interfacing facility is a data processing facility coupled to said telecommunications devices.  
     
     
         30 .The system according to  claim 24 , wherein said interfacing facility is coupled to said telecommunications devices via at least one network connection.  
     
     
         31 . A method for communicating with and controlling disparate telecommunications devices in a telecommunications network, comprising the steps of: 
 detecting and receiving a first external message formatted in accordance with a first messaging format corresponding to a first telecommunications device;    extracting data from said first external message;    generating an internal message based on said data extracted from said first external message during said extracting step;    generating a second external message based on said internal message and a second messaging format corresponding to a second telecommunications device; and    sending said second external message to said second telecommunications device, said second telecommunications device being controlled in based on said second external message.    
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein said first messaging format defines a computer decipherable message structure having fields comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein said second messaging format defines a computer decipherable message structure having field comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein said first telecommunications device is a switch and said first messaging format defines a switch specific messaging scheme, said first messaging format defines a computer decipherable message structure having fields comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein said second telecommunications device is an interactive voice response unit (IVRU) and said second messaging format defines a IVRU specific messaging scheme, said second messaging format defines a computer decipherable message structure having fields comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         36 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein said interfacing facility is a software facility that runs on a data processing platform coupled to said first and second telecommunications devices.  
     
     
         37 . A method for communicating with and controlling disparate telecommunications devices in a telecommunications network, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a first device specific message from a first telecommunications device within said telecommunications network, said first device specific message related to a call to be processed within said telecommunications network;    translating said first device specific message into an internal message configured to be processed by a task facility; and    generating a second device specific message corresponding to a second telecommunications device after said task facility has processed said internal message.    
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein said first device specific message is formatted according to a first messaging format that defines a computer decipherable message structure having fields comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein said second device specific message is formatted according to a second messaging format that defines a computer decipherable message structure having fields comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein said first telecommunications device is a switch which communicates according to a first messaging format which defines a switch specific messaging scheme, said first messaging format defines a computer decipherable message structure having fields comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein said second telecommunications device is an interactive voice response unit (IVRU) which communicates according to a second messaging format which defines a IVRU specific messaging scheme, said second messaging format defines a computer decipherable message structure having fields comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein said task facility is a billing facility that processes said internal message to generate billing records related to calls processed within said telecommunications network.  
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein said task facility is a database facility that processes said internal message in performing database operations related to calls processed within said telecommunications network.  
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein said translating step includes the step of processing said first device specific message by extracting data therefrom based on a device specific messaging format.  
     
     
         45 . An interfacing facility for use in a telecommunications network, comprising: 
 a message receipt facility configured to receive a device specific message from a telecommunications device, said device specific message related to a call to be processed within said telecommunications network; and    a message translation facility configured to translate said first device specific message into an internal message configured to be processed by a task facility.    
     
     
         46 . The interfacing facility according to  claim 45 , wherein said device specific message is formatted according to a messaging format that defines a computer decipherable message structure having fields comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         47 . The interfacing facility according to  claim 45 , wherein said telecommunications device is a switch which communicates according to a messaging format which defines a switch specific messaging scheme, said messaging format defines a computer decipherable message structure having fields comprised of bit sequences.  
     
     
         48 . The interfacing according to  claim 45 , wherein said task facility is a billing facility that processes said internal message to generate billing records related to calls processed within said telecommunications network.  
     
     
         49 . The interfacing facility according to  claim 9 , wherein said task facility is a database facility that processes said internal message in performing database operations related to calls processed within said telecommunications network.  
     
     
         50 . The interfacing facility according to  claim 9 , wherein said message translation facility is further configured to process said device specific message by extracting data therefrom based on device specific messaging format.